Perhaps the biggest user privacy issue of our time has to do, of course, with AI. AI models have an insatiable appetite for data, as the only way to improve them is to feed them new, high-quality information. As such, companies that develop these models turn to the most convenient pool of data they have access to—which, unfortunately, belongs to their own users.
WeTransfer is the latest company to come under fire for the practice. You may have seen the discourse already. On social media sites like Bluesky, angry WeTransfer users are blasting the company for a recent change in its terms of service. It’s not hard to see why: The language in the new terms appears to clearly say that the company reserves the right to use your content to improve its AI models.
“You hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licenseable license to use your Content for the purposes of…improving the Service or new technologies or services, including to improve performance of machine learning models that enhance our content moderation process.” There aren’t many other ways to interpret that.
WeTransfer is changing its tune
Apparently, though, we did “misinterpret” the situation. A WeTransfer spokeswoman told BBC News as much, stating, “We don’t use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer, nor do we sell content or data to any third parties.” WeTransfer claims the wording in the new terms of service was meant to “include the possibility of using AI to improve content moderation,” as well as identify “harmful content.” Sure, Jan.
Following the backlash, the company has changed the terms, and has “made the language easier to understand.” By that, they must mean removing all references to using your content to train AI models, because that language simply doesn’t exist anymore.
What do you think so far?
Unrelated to AI use, the original terms also appeared to give WeTransfer the right to do whatever they want with your content. “Such license includes the right to reproduce, distribute, modify, prepare derivative works based upon, broadcast, communicate to the public, publicly display, and perform Content. You will not be entitled to compensation for any use of Content by us under these Terms.” This language has been changed as well, to the following: “You hereby grant us a royalty-free license to use your Content for the purposes of operating, developing, and improving the Service, all in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy.”
Interestingly, the original language around licensing (but not AI training) does appear in regard to feedback you may provide WeTransfer. (Sure, WeTransfer, take a royalty-free license to do whatever you want with my feedback with no expectation of providing compensation. Just don’t take my content to train your crummy AI.)
WeTransfer’s new terms go into effect Aug. 8, unless you’re a “new user.” Time will tell how many users, old and new, decide to ditch WeTransfer over the scandal.